Passive Smoking Is An Active And Acute Problem

Secondhand smoking or passive smoking is the inhalation of a combined smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, as also the smoke exhaled by smokers. Secondhand smoke contains over 7000 chemicals of which over several hundred are toxic and over 70 of them can cause cancer. Contrary to popular perception, there is no risk-free level of exposure to Second-Hand Smoke (SHS). Exposure to SHS causes cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Non-smokers exposed to SHS at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 - 30 per cent and lung cancer by 20 - 30 per cent.

Around 30.2 per cent of adults in India are exposed to SHS at their workplace. Smoking is allowed inside the house in 48.8 per cent of all households and 45.5 per cent of non-smoker households. A little more than one-third of non-smokers (35 per cent) and 38.7 per cent of all adults are exposed to SHS in their homes.

The prevalence of home SHS is obviously higher among females. One in four (25.7%) of all adults are exposed to SHS in public places. Studies show that older children whose parents smoke get sick more often. Their lungs are weaker compared to children who do not breathe SHS, and they are at higher risk of contracting bronchitis and pneumonia.

Sustained exposure to cigarette smoking is equivalent to smoking 2 cigarettes per day, and exposure is way higher in public places. Despite stringent efforts made by agencies across the country, an alarming 5500 new tobacco users are added every day.

No amount of legislation can guarantee complete and effective protection to the consumers unless the consumer himself is prepared and willing to fight against the evil of consumer exploitation. Thus, the common people must become aware of their rights to a clean and healthy smoke-free environment. There are three levels to a fully aware passive smoker:

• Awareness about passive smoking being injurious to health
• Awareness of specific diseases caused by passive smoking
• Awareness about consumer rights and how to exercise them

Mahatma Gandhi has aptly put it, “The earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So, we have to hand it over to them at least as it was handed over to us.”

Contributed by, Dr Vishal Rao, Regional Director – Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery, HCG Cancer Hospital Bengaluru.